Portsmouth Winter Tennis League: Canoe Lake Ladies come through Avenue test - plus latest from Warsash, Fishbourne and others

Canoe Lake Ladies hit the right road with victory over Avenue 2nds in the Portsmouth Winter League.
Portsmouth Winter League players, from left: Sarah Long, Nick St John, Vicky White, Stephen Carden-Noad, Dan Lee, Julia Baker, Joe Denneny, John Kemble, Alison Clarke, Robin Gallagher, Jan Grant, Mike Betteridge, Jake Betteridge, Anne Hall and Denise FranksPortsmouth Winter League players, from left: Sarah Long, Nick St John, Vicky White, Stephen Carden-Noad, Dan Lee, Julia Baker, Joe Denneny, John Kemble, Alison Clarke, Robin Gallagher, Jan Grant, Mike Betteridge, Jake Betteridge, Anne Hall and Denise Franks
Portsmouth Winter League players, from left: Sarah Long, Nick St John, Vicky White, Stephen Carden-Noad, Dan Lee, Julia Baker, Joe Denneny, John Kemble, Alison Clarke, Robin Gallagher, Jan Grant, Mike Betteridge, Jake Betteridge, Anne Hall and Denise Franks

The opening rubbers were shared in the ladies Division 2 battle, although Lake's leading pair of Caroline Hardy and Leah Clifton were taken to a match tie-break before eventually seeing off Ella Tusler and Denise Simper.

Canoe Lake's top duo of Hardy and Clifton again needed a match tie-break prior to overcoming Jackie Edney and Heather Halliday.

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It was left to Karen Claeys and Ashley Law to take the match for Lake as they defeated Tusler and Simper in straight sets.

After a flurry of matches across the Portsmouth Winter League since its resumption following the easing of lockdown restrictions, this week proved a much quieter one.

A reduced fixture list it might have been, but the matches which were played provided plenty of entertainment.

Avenue ladies' 3rds were also in action over the weekend, securing a winning draw against Warsash 3rds in Division 3.

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Once again the opening rubbers were shared, with top pairs from both clubs seeing off the lesser ranked respective duos they faced.

Warsash edged ahead after Denise Franks and Jan Grant recorded a second three set victory of the meeting.

But Vicki White and Alison Clarke soon levelled things up at two rubbers apiece which enabled Avenue to take the winning draw points by six sets to four.

Playing alongside the ladies at Warsash, the men's 3rd team failed to make much of an impression as they suffered a 4-0 humbling at the hands of Southsea.

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Warsash's men's master team did not fare much better, going down 4-0 against a rampant Canoe Lake squad.

Tim Fielder and Martin Jewell were in devastating form for Lake, dropping just five games in four sets. Canoe Lake's other pair, Dick Hebbes and Martyn Cox, were nearly as formidable to ensure their team romped to victory.

Warsash and Lake clashed again - this time in the ladies masters - but it was the same outcome as in the men's meeting.

Despite Canoe Lake's convincing 4-0 victory margin, things were a lot closer than the scoreline suggests.

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Caroline Hardy and Betty Corbett eased to a 6-2, 6-2 straight sets win over Warsash's Janet Beal and Sheena. The other six sets were decided by a single break of serve which all went in Canoe Lake's favour.

In the final action of the week, Fishbourne ladies masters team were 3-1 winners over near neighbours Avenue.

Fishbourne started at a blistering pace, picking up each of the opening two rubbers to take command.

Dawn Wears and Sarah Long hit back for Avenue by taking the top pairs' rubber, yet Sue Lord and Bridget Clements made sure Fishbourne were not to be denied victory with a straightforward 6-3, 6-2 win over Linda Wainwright and Mary Robinson.

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